Alexander Semenovich Vasilchikov (1746-1813) - one of the favorites of Empress Catherine II (in 1772-1774).
Alexander Semenovich Vasilchikov | |
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Date of Birth | 1746 |
Date of death | 1813 |
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Awards and prizes | |
Biography
The son of a column nobleman Semyon Grigorievich Vasilchikov and Maria Bogdanovna, nee Zhadovskaya . The Cornet of the Life Guard of the Horse Regiment (since 04/19/1765). The owner of the estate near Moscow Lopasnya-Zachatievskoe .
At the beginning of 1772, through the mediation of the Austrians, they agreed to start in June a peace congress with the Turks in Focsani. The empress's favorite, Count Grigory Orlov, and the former Russian ambassador in Istanbul, Obreskov, were appointed to be authorized by the Russian side. In the spring and summer of 1772, Vasilchikov often visited the guard at Tsarskoe Selo, where he attracted the attention of the empress and soon received a golden snuff box "for the content of the guard".
Then followed a series of gifts and promotions. 1.08.1772 granted to the chamber junkers , and then (September 2) to the chamberlains . In the palace I occupied the rooms in which G. G. Orlov lived, and for fear of a sudden return of the former favorite, a guard was set to the doors of his room.
The Prussian envoy Solms reported to Berlin two weeks after Orlov’s departure:
“I can no longer restrain myself and not inform Your Majesty of an interesting event that has just happened at this courtyard. The absence of Count Orlov revealed a very natural, but nevertheless unexpected circumstance: Her Majesty found it possible to do without him, change his feelings towards him and transfer his disposition to another object. Horse Guards Cornet Vasilchikov, accidentally sent with a small detachment to Tsarskoye Selo to carry the guards, attracted the attention of his sovereign, quite unexpectedly for everyone, because there was nothing special in his appearance, and he himself never tried to advance and in society very little is known . When the royal court moved from Tsarskoye Selo to Peterhof, Her Majesty for the first time showed him a sign of her location, giving a golden snuffbox for the proper maintenance of the guard. This occasion did not attach any importance, however, Vasilchikov’s frequent visits to Peterhof, the care with which she hastened to distinguish him from others, the more relaxed and cheerful disposition of her spirit since Orlov’s removal, the displeasure of her relatives and friends, and finally many other minor circumstances opened the eyes of the courtiers . Although until now everything is kept secret, none of those in the know doubt that Vasilchikov is already in full favor with the empress; this was seen especially from the day when he was granted a chamber junker ” [1] .
“The servants and maids of the empress were anxious and displeased, for they loved Orlova and he patronized them,” wrote the German ambassador, to which Frederick II recommended him to “seek out the friendship of a new pet.”
Vasilchikov used his elevation relatively little. Catherine praised his moderation and herself awarded: 100 thousand rubles were donated to him, 50 thousand jewels, 7 thousand souls of peasants. On the Palace Square, the house of Glazov was bought for him, but the house decoration was not completed by the time Vasilchikov retired from the courtyard; the house was bought from him in the treasury for 10 thousand rubles.
As of March 1, 1774, GA Potemkin was appointed adjutant general. Upon retirement, richly awarded (Vasilchikov received a pension of 20 thousand rubles, 50 thousand for building a house in Moscow, etc.), he lived in Moscow. I spent thirty years in a magnificent house on Vozdvizhenka as a bachelor. He collected Western European painting and sculpture: the collection consisted of 70 paintings, among which was “Self-portrait” by Velasquez [2] , “Landscape” by Phillips Vowerman , “Tavern” by Andris Bot . His stateless childless Vasilchikov left his nephew Alexei .
Notes
- ↑ Catherine II Archival copy from November 1, 2010 on Wayback Machine
- ↑ In this self-portrait, Velasquez portrayed himself working on a portrait of Titian.
Literature
- Dolgorukov P.V. Russian genealogical book . - SPb. Type E. Weimar, 1855. - T. 2. - p. 95.
- Evgenieva M. Lovers of Catherine. - M: Vneshtorgizdat, 1989.